Fourth Roll ball World Cup kicks off in Dhaka

The 4th Roll ball World Cup 2017 has begun today through a colorful inauguration ceremony at the Sheikh Russel Roller Skating Complex of Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka yesterday. Around 700 hundred players from 40 countries across the world are going to participate in the competition.

Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal MP was to inaugurate the opening ceremony as the chief guest. Besides, State Minister Dr Biren Sikder MP, Deputy Minister Arif Khan Joy MP, President of Bangladesh Roller Scatting Federation Abul Kalam Azad were present as special guests. Chief guests and other speakers of the function gave bless and wish them best of luck to the all participants in their speech. The inauguration ends with colorful cultural program. There are 27 women teams and 39 men teams are going to will compete in the 6-day tournament. The final will be held on Thursday.  This is the first time Bangladesh host a sports World Cup with the participation of so many participants and countries at a single venue. The matches will be held in 3 different venues- Mirpur Outer Stadium, Handball Stadium and in the newly built Sheikh Russell Roller Skating Complex of Paltan Maidan. 

In the men's category, 39 countries split into eight groups. Bangladesh have been placed in Pool D along with Myanmar, Bhutan, Fiji and Hong Kong. On the other hand, defending champion India have been drawn in Pool A alongside Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Oman and England. In women's category, 27 countries will compete for the title. The host team have been placed in Pool D along with south Asian neighbors Nepal and Philippines. In both the men's and women's section, the winner and runners-up side from each group will move to the pre-quarter finals.


Bangladesh men's team have started their journey with a nice victory over Hong Kong. In the opening match of the 1st day of World Cup competition the host blew away minnow Hong Kong by 19-1 goals in their tournament. The Bangladesh team dominated the first half taking seven goal lead completed their tally adding another 12 goals in the second half. Forward Hriday was pick with his form as he slammed 11 out of 19 goals in the match. The women's team will start their campaign against Nepal today.

The International Rollball Federation organize the Rollball World Cup in each two years. Denmark emerged champions in the 1st Rollball World Cup in 2011 while India lifted the titles in the 2nd and 3rd occasions. Bangladesh men's team will compete for the third times in the World Cup while the women team in the second occasions. The curtain of the tournament will drop on February 23.